Categories: orthodox-life
Date: 07 December 2004 09:29:27
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then, when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
James 1:14-15
The five "stages" given were Suggestion, Desire, Consideration, Intention and Action. Briefly, Suggestion is when thoughts or feelings come in, often without any action from our part -- simply seeing a billboard, for instance, or having a thought from one's memory enter one's mind. Desire is the emotional response to the Suggestion. It is an urge to put the Suggestion into action. Consideration occurs when we start thinking about the Desire: the pros and the cons -- mental arguments.
We were told these are not yet sin, as much as these things can be quantified and categorised. The Suggestion, Desire and Consideration stages are often not conscious -- they spring up from within us without any positive action on our side. Yet is important that we aim to stop the progress of temptations as soon as we can.
The Intention (the agreement with the Consideration) and the actual Action were classified as sin, because a decision on our part has been made.
I found it an interesting meditation as I often do struggle with various temptations, and I can recognise those stages -- and my own failings in letting the stages fly by. Also, my getting anxious as the temptations come and fighting them with all my might and strength -- rather than focusing on God and the strength he gives. I pray I can, by God's grace, put this into practice. And also remember, whenever I fail, that if I confess my sins, God is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).